Cattle-stall.



A. H. NELLER.

CATTLE STALL.

' APPLICATION r1150 OCT. 25, 1913.

1,184.,Q. 1 Patented May 30,1916.

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A. H. NELLER.

CATTLE STALL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25. 1913.

1,1 M,%%. Patented. May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/ 77VE$ $55. I 'HVVE/V 702a ALBERT H. NELLER, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA ASSIGNQR TO LOUDEN MACHINERY COM- PANY, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

CATTLE-STALL.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May so, iaia To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT H. NELLER,

, a citizen of the United States, residing at F airfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cattle-Stalls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cattle stalls having a top rail connected at intervals to a. series of spaced apart upright posts, and having cattle holding stanchions attached to the top-rail between the posts; and it consists of improved means for decreasing the open spaces between the posts and the stanchions to prevent the cattle from getting their heads between the posts and the stanchions when the. stanchions are open to receive them'and to remove the barrier when the stanchions are" closed to hold the cattle in place, thus giving them all the room between the posts while being held by the stanchions. Also, of other features herein described and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification Figure 1 is a perspective of a series of cattle stalls embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is the same showing some of the part% in a different position. Fig. '3 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section on line l-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view broken apart in the center.

Referring to the drawing A represents the top rail, B the upright stall posts, C the partitions between the stalls, D the stanchions attached to the top-rail between the posts and E the manger curb to which the lower ends of the stanchions are anchored, all in the usual manner. Movable guidebars F consisting preferably of tubes or pipes vertically disposed andhaving their ends bent on a curve toward the stall posts are hinged thereto by means of upper and lower castings G and H. The castings G are preferably in two pieces, the one in the rear being designated by G in Figs. 3 and 4:. They are tightly clamped upon the upper ends of the guide bars F and loosely clamped on the stall posts B by means of bolts 1. The lower castings H are also ea loosely clamped upon the stall posts and are held a distance above the curb E by collars J.

The upper ends of the castings G are extended above the upper ends of the castings G so as to form swivel heads G as shown by Fig. 4.

K represents inverted U shapedcastings having their ends adapted to loosely fit the swivel heads and held thereon by bolts. The central portions of these castings are adapted to tightly clamp a shift rod L which is extended along the series of stalls parallel with and close to the top-rail A. This rod is preferably a piece of pipe or tubing and its object is to shift the guide bars F from open to closed position and vice versa. This is preferably accomplished by means of its connection to the castings K loosely mounted on the swivel heads of the castings G which in turn are clamped to the upper ends of the guide-bars F as already described.

To hold the castings K more securely on the swivel heads the latter are provided with enlargements g while the former are provided with recesses to catch over said enlargements as shown in Fig. 4. Also, to render the operation of the shift-rod more convenient and certain a lever M is mounted on the top rail so as to project laterally therefrom and move in horizontal alinement therewith and is connected to the adjacent end of the shift-rod by a pitman N. The lever M is preferably connected to the top rail by means of a laterally extended bracket 0 which is attached to the rail by a clipbolt P, the lever being pivoted to the bracket by means of a bolt Q. The ends of the pitman N are turned at right angles to its body and one of these ends is inserted in a hole drilled in the under side of the pipe or tube forming the shift-rod, while the other is inserted in an eye in the central part of the lever M and is secured in this position by a pin or cotter a. By this arrangement the movement of the lever in one direction will open the guide-bars F to give the cows plenty of room to turn their heads and when the lever is moved in the other direction it will close the guide-bars to prevent the cows from putting their heads between the stanchions and the stall posts. Theend of the bracket 0 where the lever M is pivoted is extended out laterally from the rail A sufficiently to permit the free end of the lever to pass the center of the pivot, thus automatically locking the lever in either open or closed position, and preventing the guide bars from being prematurely shifted from er'ably recessed to receive the head of the v bolt Q and prevent it from Striking too hard against the pitman when the lever passes the center of the pivot in moving from one positionto the other. It is better however to haye'the pitman bear hard enough upon the pivot center in passing over to securely locklthe lever in both open and closed posit1on. v

' [If preferred, the lever M may be connected directly to the shift rod L without the intervention of the pitman N, but if this is done the necessary means will have 'to be used to provide sufiicient flexibility in the connection to permitv the parts to work freely. With a stanchion having a side which opens,

" like those shown in the drawings, the guidebars Fare needed only on the other side, the" opening part of the stanchion being sufficient to close the open space on thatside.

" The movable guide-bars F do not form any part of the stanchion, and should not be mistaken for it. Their function is to narrow the space between the stanchion and the stall post when the former is in open position to admit the cows head and to prevent her from putting her head in the wrong place, and to widen the space when the stanchion is closed around the cow s neck, to give her more room to turn her head.

If desired a sheet metal manger consisting of a back R and partitions S may be atattached to the posts.

tached to the stalls in which case it is preferable to hinge the inner ends of the partitions to the stall posts by meansof the'hinge castings T, which are pivoted to castings U The entire structure is simple, strong, inexpensive, easily operated and effective in operation. J

The pivoting of the lever so as to project late'rally from one side of thetop rail and J move in horizontal alinement therewith is especially an advantageous arrangement. It is easier for the attendant to reach and operate the lever, and the shiftrod being located at one side of the top. rail, it is easier to make has 'the necessary connection. It-also permits the movement ofthe' lever past the center of its pivot in both, directions, thus automatically locking the guide-bars in open and vWhat I' claim is 1. -In cattle stalls having a top-rail, upright posts and 'stanchions hung to the toprail between the posts, the combination of vertically disposed guide-bars having their ends curved toward adjacent posts and hinged thereto, castings having upwardly projecting swivel heads, a shift-rod, U- shaped castings adapted to tightly grip the shift-rod and loosely embrace the swivel heads and means to longitudinally move the Zhift-rod so as to open and close the guidears.

2. In cattle stalls having a top-rail and upright posts, stanchions hung to the top rail between the posts, a series of vertically disposed guide-bars hinged to swing laterally in the spaces between the posts and thestanchions, a shift-rod connected to the upper ends of the guide-bars at one side of the posts, a laterally projecting bracket secured to the top-rail on the same side as the shift-rod, and a laterally projecting lever having its inner end pivoted to the projecting end of the bracket and centrally connected to the shift-rod whereby the movement of the free end of the lever in opposite and alternately lock them in open and closed position.

3. In cattle stalls having a top-rail and upright posts, stanchions hung to the toprail between the posts, a series of vertically disposed guide-bars hinged to swing laterally in the spaces between the posts and the stanchions, a shift-rod connected to the upper ends of the guide-bars at one side of the posts, a laterally projecting bracket secured to the top-rail on the same side as the shift-rod, and a laterally projecting lever having its inner end pivoted to the projecting end of the bracket and centrally connected to the shift-rod whereby the movement of the free end of the lever in opposite directions past its pivot center will lock the guide-bars alternately in open and closed positions.

4.. In a device of the character described, a top-rail and stall posts, guide bars hinged to the stall posts, a tubular shift-rod connected to the guide-bars and adapted to open and close them, a lever pivoted to the toprail, a pitmanhaving its ends bent at right angles to its body and having one of its ends inserted in the. adjacent end of the shift-rod and its end inserted in a hole in the under side of the shift rod and the opposite end inserted in an eye in the lever.

5. In a device of the character described having a top-rail and stall-posts, guide bars hinged to the stall-posts, a shift rod connected to the guide bars, a bracket secured by means of a clip bolt to the top-rail so as to have a laterally extended end, a lever pivoted on said extended end and connected to the shift-rod to move it horizontally and open and close the guide-bars and automatically lock them in open and closed position.

Fairfield, Iowa, Oct. 22, 1913.

ALBERT HQNELLER.

Witnesses:

copies ef. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washinztomlb. 0." 

